UAE | Courts

Driver who crashed into Dubai restaurant on Friday was drunk

Could face 3-7 years in jail for causing 3 deaths while under the influence

By Bassam Za’za’, Legal and Court Correspondent

Published: 18:01 July 28, 2013

Image Credit: Janice Ponce de Leon/Gulf News

The driver hit the signpost first before smashing into the
restaurant.

Dubai: An Angolan driver has admitted to traffic prosecutors that he was driving under the influence of liquor when he smashed into a restaurant’s facade , killing three people and injuring three others.

Interrogations have revealed that the Angolan had 136 mg/dl of alcohol in his system at the time when he crashed into the restaurant’s facade around 2.40am on Friday in Al Barsha 3, said Senior Chief Prosecutor Salah Bu Farousha, Head of Dubai Traffic Public Prosecution (TPP).

“The driver, who is 21 years and three months old, would not benefit from the factor of leniency considering his age. According to the Penal Law, a suspect who causes an accident that leads to three or more deaths while under the influence of liquor, could face between three to seven years in jail and a fine. Three persons died up so far… we are still following up on the health condition of one of those who sustained critical injuries,” Bu Farousha told Gulf News on Sunday.

According to traffic prosecutor Hamad Al Ali, who carried on-site inspections, the defendant suddenly lost control over his speeding vehicle then veered off the right lane of the double-lane road, ran over a pedestrian and then crashed into the restaurant.

“We obtained footage of the accident from surveillance cameras that were fixed at a nearby hotel and confronted the defendant. The footage revealed that the suspect lost control over his car while driving at a very high speed, then veered off the road towards the restaurant. He hit a pavement, then ran over a pedestrian, who was thrown nearly 10 metres, before the speeding car landed in the restaurant,” said Bu Farousha.

God’s divine care helped avoid a bigger disaster as a sports utility vehicle had just left the restaurant’s parking few minutes before the crash, said the head of TPP.